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Show SHOULD THE USE OF PUBLIC RANGE BE REGULATED At present the western states contain con-tain a large acreage of land which is unsuited to agriculture or other intensive in-tensive uses, but has some value for livestock grazing and is used for this purpose. This range is open to grazing graz-ing with, generally, no restrictions as to what extent, how when or by whom it is grazed. Some of the land lies in large tracts while other is in small Irregular patches adjoining or near ranches and scattered communities; communi-ties; the former are generally used by large individual owners or organized organ-ized groups, the latter most often by local ranch owners of moderate means and owning but small numbers num-bers of stock. More livestock are grown than can be grazed on the range. The result is that there obtains keen competition for use of open ranges. It is very common to find range overgrazed to the extent that the foliage plants are weakened or even killed. As forage plants become depleted stock trail1 more and the soil no longer long-er protected by a good stand of vegetation vege-tation gives way to the trampling and erosion sets in, washing away the top soil and cutting deep drains which open up the ground to quick drainage drain-age and destructive flooding. As range depletion continues the larger Independent stock outfits crowd out the small ranch owners from the limited ranges adjoining their ranches and the small towns. It occurs to me that the time is ripe when every livestock association backed by every grazier and livestock live-stock grower concerned, should take steps to perpetrate and properly utilize util-ize the public range. It is evident that this can be done only by properly proper-ly stocking and handling. There must be some means of determining how much range may be grazed in conformity con-formity with systems tending to the stabilizing and making profitable livestock growing and community development. Consider the question Should the use of public range be regulated? If you answer in the affirmative, let's work to that end. Management may be delegated to the state, Federal government, or to a bureau especially especial-ly created for the purpose. You say which it shall be and let's work the case while there is something left worth the effort W. E. Tangren. Ranger. |